Page 125 of Let Sleeping Vampires Lie

He flinched.

“But it matters,” I said. “Tonight, it matters. Because my king is dying, my clan is under attack, and the world is sliding toward a kind of war we cannot win if that formula spreads. You helped pull us one step back from that cliff.”

Isra’s eyes glistened.

I continued, voice roughening. “I do not forgive easily. You know that. Ask Constantine.”

A snort came from the bed.

“I heard that,” Con murmured.

“Good,” I said.

I looked back at Isra. “You have every right to be furious. To feel betrayed. To question everything Marcus told you. But do not rewrite the fact that tonight he stood between that case and a man who would have killed him. He chose you. He chose us. He did not have to.”

Isra’s attention shifted to Marcus again.

The broker stood very still, hands open at his sides, as if ready to receive whatever judgment fell.

Raven added her weight quietly. “I do not like what Marcus does. I will never like it. But I am grateful he helped us tonight. I am grateful he got Cassara and Constantine out of that warehouse alive.”

Marcus blinked. “You are welcome.”

“Do not get used to the praise,” Con muttered. “It will fade.”

Despite himself, Isra huffed a small, wet laugh.

The sound broke something in the tension.

He lifted a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling shakily. “I hate that you kept this from me.”

“I know,” Marcus said.

“I hate that every time I think about the last year, I will wonder what you were doing when you told me you were traveling for ‘logistics.’”

“I know.”

Isra dropped his hand and looked at him. Really looked.

“I hate that you made me love a man I did not actually know,” he said.

Marcus’ throat worked. “Isra…”

“But,” Isra said, voice barely above a whisper, “I would hate it more if you had not walked out of that warehouse with them tonight.”

He stepped closer, stopping just out of reach.

“This is not forgiveness,” he said. “Not yet. I do not even know if I can get there. I do not know if I want to.”

Marcus nodded. “I will take whatever you give me.”

“You will take what I decide you deserve,” Isra shot back, although the sting in his words lacked true venom now.

Marcus accepted that without flinching.

Isra looked at the case, then at Con, then at me. “I should go. Con needs rest, and I need… time to think.”

Con glanced at Marcus. “You are staying here tonight. Shadow Bone is safer than the club. And I do not trust you out of my sight at the moment.”